(AFP) The government has banned 78 people from travelling overseas because they had tarnished Malaysia's image during previous trips abroad, a deputy minister said today.

Their activities also prejudiced national security, Deputy Home Minister Zainal Abidin Zin told the Senate, parliament's upper house.

"Their names have been blacklisted and they will not be issued with passports," Bernama news agency quoted him as saying. They will apparently also be banned from using existing passports.

No details were given of who is affected by the travel ban. A home ministry spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

The government has in the past accused supporters of jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim of tarnishing the country's image by mounting overseas protests against his treatment.

Bankrupts also banned

Malaysia also bans bankrupts and people convicted of crimes from travelling overseas.

Zainal said 70,872 people who had been declared bankrupt were banned from using their passports, as well as 4,929 people involved in the drug trade and 2,383 with criminal records.

The government had also blacklisted 2,909 foreign nationals from entering Malaysia, he said. No details were given.

Police are currently detaining 10 of Anwar's supporters under the Internal Security Act, which allows indefinite detention without trial. Most have been held since April 10 or 11.

After a 60-day interrogation period the home minister must decide whether to release them or make a two-year detention order. Such orders can be renewed indefinitely.